The Proteas have just completed a successful tour of Zimbabwe. Zaahier Adams rates the ODI squad.
Quinton de Kock: 5/10
Runs 105, Average 21, HS 76, Catches 7, Stumpings 1
So prolific has young De Kock been recently that he was bound to fail at some stage. Unfortunately for the 21 year-old it was this series, where he struggled to build any momentum up front. His keeping behind the wicket was sound throughout the series.
Hashim Amla: 7/10
Runs 172, Average 34.40, HS 66 Catches 4
The other half of South Africa’s opening pair too was not his usual run-hungry self in this series. But a sign of a truly class player is that he makes contributions when the stakes are at their highest, and Amla obliged with a half-century in the final.
Faf du Plessis: 11/10
Runs 464, Average 92.80, HS 126
Can any more be said or written about the Bradmanesque-form Du Plessis is currently in? South Africa’s No3 is simply untouchable at the moment. The only blemish on a tour he will never forget was when he failed to connect a Mitchell Johnson full toss in the final that would have seen him register four centuries in the series.
AB de Villiers: 10/10
Runs 215, Average 107.50 HS 136* Catches 4
When De Villiers is on song, there are few more exhilarating sights in world cricket to marvel at. De Villiers actually averaged more than his good mate Faf in this series. His two big performances against Australia were breathtaking, but the real joy for De Villiers is the way his leadership skills have developed since starting out two years ago.
JP Duminy: 7/10
Runs 102, Average 34, HS 51 Catches 2
Wickets: 3, Economy 5.13, BB 3/35
A business-like series for the South African all-rounder. There were no match-winning performances, but neither were there any serious blow-outs. A timely half-century against Zimbabwe in the final round-robin game was followed up with a good bowling performance that underlined Duminy’s value to the Proteas’ cause.
David Miller: 2/10
Runs 13, Average 6.50, HS 10*, Catches 6
Miller would not begrudge the “TFC” (Thanks for coming) award going his away in this series due to his minimal contributions. There will be question marks going forward about Miller’s value to the Proteas ODI team, but with the support of the captain and management, the powerful left-hander will get another opportunity on the friendlier tracks of New Zealand and Australia next month.
Rilee Rossouw: 3/10
Runs: 36, Average 18, HS 36, Catches 2
Wickets: 1, Economy 5.66, BB 1/7
The Knights left-hander will look back at the tour of Zimbabwe as one of perhaps a missed opportunity. Although he finally broke his international duck with a start against Zimbabwe, he did not show enough to justify his selection ahead of Dean Elgar, Justin Ontong or Farhaan Behardien.
Ryan McLaren: 6/10
Runs: 30, Average 18, HS 24, Catches 0
Wickets: 6, Economy 6.0, BB 3/24
The ‘Mr Dependable’ of the South African bowling line-up did not quite live up to his nickname during this series, especially with the ball where he struggled to consistently deliver his yorkers at the death. He still has that knack of picking up wickets though, and showed great courage to bat on despite being left battered, bruised and broken again after a bout with Mitchell Johnson.
Wayne Parnell: 6/10
Runs: 16, Average 16, HS 10*, Catches 0
Wickets: 3, Economy: 5.80, BB 2/40
The left-arm seam bowling all-rounder remains an enigma in South African cricket with his frustratingly inconsistent performances. He was disastrous in his first game against Australia, only to return with some much-needed strikes during a fabulous spell in the final.
Dale Steyn: 8/10
Wickets: 10, Economy: 4/65, BB 4/34
Runs: 15, Average 7.50, HS 10, Catches 0
There is a feeling that Steyn “manages” himself during an ODI series. During the preliminary games, he bowls at less than full throttle and simply tries to contain the run-rate. However, when the pressure is at its greatest, that’s when the real ‘Steyn Remover’ comes out to play, like during the final when he delivered a masterclass in reverse-swing bowling.
Morné Morkel: 8/10
Wickets: 6, Economy: 5/75, BB 2/58, Catches 0
The beanpole fast-bowler’s rating is exaggerated on the basis that it took a major effort for him just to be on the field. Suffering from a severe shoulder injury, Morkel was on painkillers throughout the series and battled through the discomfort for South Africa’s cause.
Aaron Phangiso: 9/10
Wickets: 5, Economy: 3.84, BB 2/33, Catches 2
The unsung hero of the South Africa’s triumph in this tri-series. The left-arm spin bowler enjoyed the helpful conditions and showed that he can deliver if provided with consistent opportunities.
Imran Tahir: 8/10
Wickets: 5, Economy: 3.84, BB 2/33
Considering the heroics of the Zimbabwean spinners, Australia’s Nathan Lyon and Phangiso in this series, Tahir would have felt he would have been higher up on the wicket-takers list. However, he showed here that he could contain as well as strike, and did that superbly in the final with a trademark googly to dismiss the Australian captain George Bailey.
Kyle Abbott: 2/10
Wickets: 0, Economy 6.0
The Dolphins seamer only played the solitary game against Zimbabwe when Morkel was rested, but struggled to hit a consistent length after mostly bowling in the nets previously.
Mthokosizi Shezi: No rating (did not play a game)
DALE STEYN on ...
Michael Clarke: “I haven’t really spoken to him much since then (their run-in in the Cape Town Test earlier this year) to be honest. I don’t take many things personally, but what he did say to me I did take personally. I know he apologised in the media and I should be playing this down. But the day he comes and shakes my hand and says, ‘I really mean what I said,’ and behaves like the way he should, maybe then I will (forgive him). But for right now, he’s not here so I’ll wait until I get to Australia.”
What the hell?:“Once I saw Parny (Parnell) swing the ball a little bit, I actually went and whispered in my captain’s ear that I wanted to bowl straight away. He bowled Immy (Tahir) and then he brought me on and said ‘look. I really need something big here’. We were able to get the ball to go through the air, and I felt that my lengths were a lot better in this game. Saturday I thought, ‘what the hell’, I’m actually going to go for it. If I get the ball to reverse I’m going to be attacking those stumps, I’m going to be hitting those pads, and I’m going to try and get the ball to go as quickly as I can through the air and rush guys.”
Having guts: “You really have to attack the stumps and give yourself the best opportunity to get dismissals. And that means throwing the ball up there. It takes little bit of guts to throw the ball up there, because to these batters if you get it wrong they’ll hit you.” – The Star